Mark Levin Claims "60 or 65 percent" of Americans Are Conservative. Stats Say Otherwise

[JABBS]

Click here to read the whole story.

I didn't know this, but Harris actually polls on the subject. Ironically, the percentage of Americans identifying themselves as conservative has dropped during the Bush years, as it did during the Clinton years.

[ClassWarrior]

1. Le-VIN was one of the RW cheerleaders for their attempted coup...

...against the American people in 1998.

NGU.

[JABBS]

3. it just amazes me that

when you show his listeners -- blog readers -- what he says and what the facts are, they simply don't care.

they say, "you're missing the point," or "you're not seeing the big picture." I'm like, "you understand that the big picture is a distorted picture, right?" But they don't see it.

[Missy M]

2. Then why are the Dems in charge as of the election?

[ComerPerro]

4. The definition of conservative is such a broad definition, that's why

especially at some so-called fair and unbiased political surveys online, that are meant to tell you where you stand.

They keep expanding the definition so they can try to convince more and more people that they are conservative.

[JABBS]

9. but come up with any messure

and you aren't going to get to 60 or 65 percent.

the percentage of americans who favor abortion rights, or who favor the status quo on abortion rights -- 45-55 percent, depending on the poll.

the percentage of americans who favor civil unions or gay marriage -- about 60 percent

the percentage of Americans who consider themselves part of the christian right -- about 33 percent

the percentage of Americans who want to see troop redployment by the end of 2007 -- about 70 percent (depending on the poll)

the percentage of Americans who want to see more congressional oversight of the Bush Administration -- about 70-80 percent, depending on the poll.

[ComerPerro]

11. Imagine if you will defining "conservative" as :

Being in favor of a small government that stays out of people's private lives,

Being in favor of curbing wasteful spending,

Being opposed to deficit spending,

Being opposed to banning religion or religious expression.


Granted, none of these qualities describe conservatives, especailly today's conservatives. But that's how they define themselves in tests and surveys, to perpetuate the lie

[JABBS]

13. but then the harris survey is wrong

no?

[gratuitous]

5. Oh, we're all conservatives, didn't you know?

If you think the Bush administration was wrong for squandering $500 billion on Afghanistan and Iraq, that makes you a conservative.

If you support the troops (whatever that means, and it's pretty meaningless), that makes you a conservative.

If you don't think every pregnant woman should run out and have an abortion right this second, that makes you a conservative.

Try it yourself! It's easy and fun. Sort of like Jeff Foxworthy's "You might be a redneck" series.

[maxrandb]

6. The fact that this loser has a national radio show

is further evidence that talk-radio has either "jumped the shark", or "gone through the looking glass".

Damn. All you need to do now is rant about liberals and Democrats for 2-3 hours, insult peoples intelligence, and suck elephant dick, and you too can have a radio show.

I weep for my country.

[kentuck]

7. But what percent of Republicans are conservative in name only?

That should be the question.

[EST]

8. I don't doubt this number.

As a matter of fact, I think the number is actually higher than this by at least 5-10 points.

Definitions are the real problem. Conservative is not the opposite of liberal, at least in a political sense.

F'rinstance, I am a bleeding heart liberal-against the death penalty, for helping those in distress, and for almost all of the things that define the most liberal/progressive person I know.

Yet I am conservative. I don't waste money on frivolous things. I do not and have never messed around on my wife. This house and grounds that I live in is totally paid for; we live very frugally; our vehicles are pretty old but serviceable and well cared for. I don't care for change but when it's obvious that change is coming, I embrace it willingly, even happily.

I suspect there are many like me. I voted straight democratic, even the races that I was not particularly familiar with, on the strength of their willingness to call themselves democrats in a time when that is not terribly popular.

[JABBS]

10. all true

but that can't be what Levin meant. the context was clearly political.

in the same breath yesterday, he talked about socialist-communist-liberalists, whatever they are.

[OneBlueSky]

12. conservative = "let's make things better for me" . . .

liberal/progressive = "let's make things better for all" . . .

I think more Americans, by far, see themselves in the latter camp, regardless of what label they may be personally more comfortable with . . .